WO2024110367A1

WO2024110367A1 - A container

Info

Publication number: WO2024110367A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/082346
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Rayner
Original assignee: Niconovum Ab
Priority date: 2022-11-24
Filing date: 2023-11-20
Publication date: 2024-05-30
Also published as: GB202217551D0

Abstract

A container (1) is disclosed. It comprises a base portion (2) defining a storage compartment and including a cylindrical side wall, and a lid (3) having a resiliently deformable cylindrical peripheral wall (5). The side and peripheral walls include respective cooperating elements (11, 13) that engage when the lid is placed on the base in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical side and peripheral walls with the side wall of the base being at least partly received within the peripheral wall of the lid, to couple the lid to the base and close the storage compartment. The side and peripheral walls further comprise respective cam members (20a, 20b) that are spaced from each other in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis when the lid is coupled to the base. The cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid is movable in a radially inward direction towards the longitudinal axis in response to the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid so that the cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid radially aligns with the cam member on the side wall of the base and so that, upon relative rotation of the base and the lid when the peripheral wall of the lid is resiliently deformed, said respective cam members engage and generate a force between the lid and the base in an opposite direction along the longitudinal axis to disengage the cooperating elements to decouple the lid from the base and open the storage compartment.

Description

A Container

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container. The container may be used to store a consumer product, such as a tobacco pouch or a medicinal product such as medicinal chewing gum, medicinal patch or medicinal pouch.

Background to the Invention

A container of the type having a compartment to store a consumer product, such as a plurality of pouches to be used by a consumer, is known. The pouches may be tobacco- free and contain a substance related to nicotine replacement therapy. Alternatively, they may contain tobacco or another oral substance related to the tobacco industry. .

The container may have a second compartment that may be used to store the consumer product once it has been used by a consumer before disposal, and/or for storing a product information leaflet on which information relating to the product is provided. Each of the compartments may be closed by a separate lid, and at least the lid closing a primary storage compartment in which the consumer product is contained prior to consumption incorporates a ‘child-resistant’ closure to restrict access only to those with sufficient manual dexterity normally only possessed by adults.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising: a base portion defining a storage compartment and including a cylindrical side wall; a lid having a resiliently deformable cylindrical peripheral wall; wherein the side and peripheral walls include respective cooperating elements that engage when the lid is placed on the base in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical side and peripheral walls with the side wall of the base being at least partly received within the peripheral wall of the lid, to couple the lid to the base and close the storage compartment; the side and peripheral walls further comprising respective cam members that are spaced in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis when the lid is coupled to the base, wherein said cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid is movable in a radially inward direction towards the longitudinal axis in response to the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid so that the cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid radially aligns with the cam member on the side wall of the base and so that, upon relative rotation of the base and the lid when the peripheral wall of the lid is resiliently deformed, said respective cam members engage and generate a force between the lid and the base in an opposite direction along the longitudinal axis to disengage the cooperating elements to decouple the lid from the base and open the storage compartment. The respective cooperating elements may be configured to provide a snap-fit connection between the lid and the base when the lid is placed on the base.

The respective cooperating elements may comprise a ridge that protrudes in a radially outward direction from an outer surface of the side wall of the base, and a catch that protrudes in a radially inward direction from an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid for cooperation with the ridge.

The catch may comprise a tooth that protrudes in a radially inward direction, and a seat that locates the ridge when the lid is coupled to the base.

The ridge and the tooth may be configured such that the tooth contacts, and then snaps over, the ridge into the seat when the lid is placed on the base and pressure is applied to the lid and the base in opposite axial directions. The tooth and/ or the ridge may be resiliently deformable to allow the ridge to snap over the tooth into the seat.

The container may comprise a plurality of teeth extending in a radially inward direction from an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid. The teeth can be spaced circumferentially about the longitudinal axis.

The lid may comprise a major wall from which the peripheral wall depends, and the seat to locate the ridge can be formed between the teeth and said major wall. The ridge may be ring-shaped and extend in a radially outward direction from the outer surface of the side wall of the base.

The ridge and the teeth maybe dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that the lid and the base can rotate relative to each other about the axis with the ridge remaining located in the seat in the absence of resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid. One of the respective cam members may comprise a curved, possibly helical, cam surface on the side wall of the base that extends about the axis and faces in a direction of the longitudinal axis towards the lid. There may be a plurality of curved cam surfaces spaced from each other about the circumference of the side wall of the base.

Each cam surface may extend helically about the axis in the same direction about the longitudinal axis. Each cam cam surface may terminate at a peak spaced from the ridge.

The other of the respective cam members may comprise a cam follower that extends in a radially inward direction from the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid. The cam follower may be moved in a radially inward direction into radial alignment with the cam surface in response to the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid in a radial direction towards the longitudinal axis so that, upon relative rotation of the lid and the base whilst the peripheral wall of the lid is resiliently deformed, said cam follower travels along the cam surface to generate a force between the lid and the base in an opposite axial direction to disengage the cooperating elements and decouple the lid from the base.

The lid may comprise a pair of diametrically opposed cam followers such that resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid caused by squeezing the peripheral wall in a radially inward direction at the location of the diametrically opposed cam followers radially aligns each cam follower with a corresponding cam surface on the side wall of the base.

The peripheral wall of the lid may comprise an external surface that can include regions to indicate the location of the cam followers extending radially inward from the inside surface of the peripheral wall of the lid. The regions may comprise a raised area of the external surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

The cam followers can have a curved face shaped to correspond with the curved surface of the cam member such that the face of the cam follower slides against the cam surface on the base when the peripheral wall of the lid has been resiliency deformed and the lid and the base are rotated relative to each other.

Engagement between respective cam surfaces and cam followers can be configured such that, as the cam follower travels along its corresponding cam surface, a force is generated between the lid and the base in a direction along the longitudinal axis which is sufficient to force the teeth out of the seat and back over the ridge to decouple the lid from the base. The base may comprise a bottom wall having an upper face from which the side wall upstands, and the bottom wall may extend in a radially outward direction beyond the side wall.

A cap may be removably attachable to the bottom wall to define a secondary storage compartment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a container comprising a base, a lid and a cover according to an embodiment of the invention, with the lid and the cover both attached to the base;

Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of the container shown in Figure 1, with the lid and the cover shown removed from the base;

Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of the lid in a different orientation to that shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 illustrates a first cross-section through the container of Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates a second cross-section through the container of Figure 1;

Figure 6 illustrates a partial cross-section similar to that of Fig. 4, but with the peripheral wall of the lid in a resiliently deformed position; and

Figure 7 illustrates an isometric view of a base according to another embodiment of the invention, which is also usable with the lid shown in Figures 1 to 5.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 illustrates a container 1 according to an embodiment of the invention and which comprises a base 2 and a lid 3 having a major planar face 4 from which a cylindrically-shaped peripheral wall 5 depends downwardly in the orientation in which the lid 3 is shown in the drawing. With the lid 3 attached to the base 2, as is shown in Fig. 1, the peripheral wall 5 extends over, and is coupled to, a corresponding cylindrically-shaped side wall 6 (see Fig. 2) of the base 2 so that the lid 3 extends over and closes a storage compartment 7 defined within the confines of the side wall 6. The side wall 6 of the base 2 upstands from a base wall 8 that extends radially beyond the side wall 6. The remote edge 9 of the peripheral wall 5 spaced from the planar major face 4 is in contact with the base wall 8 when the lid 3 is coupled to the base 2. A removable cover 10 is also attached to the base wall 8 on the opposite side to which the side wall 6 upstands. As can be most clearly seen from Figure 2, the side wall 6 of the base 2 comprises a protruding bead or ridge 11 that extends in a radially outward direction from the side wall 6 close to a remote edge 12 of the side wall 6 spaced from the base wall 8. The ridge 11 is shown as a continuous ring extending around the circumference of the side wall 6, although it may not be entirely continuous. For example, it could be formed from discrete or broken sections with a small gap between each section.

Turning now to Figure 3, which shows the lid 3 in an inverted orientation from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it can be seen that a number of circumferentially spaced catches 13 extend radially inward from an inner surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5. Each catch 13 comprises a ramped surface 14 extending away from the inner surface 5a towards the major face 4 of the lid 3 and which terminate at a peak 15. A sloped surface 16 extends away from the peak 15 back towards the inner surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5 and terminates in a seat 17 located between the peak 15 and the inner surface 4a of the major face 4 of the lid 3. The ramped and sloped surfaces 14, 16 between the peak 15 effectively form a tooth over which the ridge 11 must pass in order to locate in the seat 17. As will be described below, the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is required to resiliently deform in order for the ridge 11 to pass over the tooth and into the seat 17.

It will be noted, from Figure 3, that each catch 13 comprises two identical teeth each having ramped and sloped surfaces 14, 16. The two teeth of each catch 13 may be spaced from each other in close proximity, as shown in Figure 3. A bracing member may extend between and connect the teeth but this bracing member is optional.

More specifically, the catches 13 are dimensioned and positioned so that, when the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is placed over the side wall 6 of the base 2, i.e. the lid 3 and the base 2 are moved in a direction towards each other along a longitudinal axis A-A as shown in Fig. 2, and as indicated by the arrow B, the ramped surface 14 of each catch 13 contacts the ridge 11 on the side wall 6 of the base 2. Further movement of the lid 3 and the base 2 towards each other in the direction of arrow B is resisted until sufficient pressure is applied between the lid 3 and the base 2 to cause a radial outward resilient deformation of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 to allow the ridge 11 to ride up the ramped surface 14 of each catch 13 and over the peak 15. Once the ridge 11 has passed over the peak 15, the radial outward force applied by the ridge 11 in contact with the ramped surface 14 is released with the resilience of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 causing it to return to its undeformed state with the ridge 11 sliding along the sloped surface 16 and into the seat 17. The resilience of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 may cause the ridge 11 to snap into the seat 17 once the ridge 11 has passed over the peak 15 and as the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall 5 releases. The lid 3 is now coupled to the base 2 and the storage compartment 7 is closed by the lid 3. Fig- 5 shows a cross-sectional side elevation of the container 1 shown in Fig. 1, with the lid 3 coupled to the base 2, and from which can be seen that the teeth of the catches 13 have passed or snapped over the ridge 11 and into the seat 17, thereby retaining the lid 3 on the base 2 whilst still allowing relative rotation of the lid 3 and the base 2. Although reference is made to a resilient deformation of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3, it will be understood that there may be, in addition or alternatively, some resilient deformation of the side wall 6 of the base 2, the ridge 11 and/or the teeth, during attachment of the lid 3 to the base 2.

It will be appreciated that no rotation of the lid 3 relative to the base 2 is required during attachment of the lid 3 to the base 2. Only axial movement of the lid 3 and the base 2 towards each other in the direction along the longitudinal axis A- A, and as shown by arrow marked B in Figure 2, is necessary in order to couple the base 2 and the lid 3 together and close the compartment 7. The catches 13 and the ridge 11 may be toleranced so that, when the ridge 11 is located in the seat 17, the lid 3 and the base 2 may rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis A-A with low resistance. In some instances it may be desirable to dimension the lid 3 and the base 2, including the catches 13 and the ridge 11, so that the lid 3 and the base 2 have minimum resistance to relative rotation, or even such that the lid 3 and the base 2 can spin freely relative to each other when the ridge 11 is received in the seat 17. It will be understood that resilient deformation of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is required to enable the ridge 11 to move out of the seat 17 and pass back over the teeth and, as will become apparent from the description that follows, this deformation cannot occur soley as a result of rotation of the lid 3 and base 2 relative to each other.

Having now described attachment of the lid 3 to the base 2, the removal of the lid 3 from the base 2 to allow access to the contents of the storage compartment 7 will now be described.

To enable the lid 3 to be removed from the base 2, the side wall 6 of the base 2 and the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 are each provided with respective cam members that are configured to engage when the lid 3 and the base 2 are rotated relative to each other, but this engagement can only occur when the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is also resiliency deformed in a radial inward direction.

With particular reference to Figure 2, it can be seen that the cam member 20a on the base 2 comprises a series of raised, spaced, platforms 21a each having ramped surfaces 21 extending about the longitudinal axis A-A and facing in the same axial direction. Each ramped surface 21 is curved, preferably helical, in shape and extends circumferentially about a portion of the side wall 6. The top of each ramp 21 may be curved and spaced from the ridge 11. As shown in Figure 2, the ramp 21 has a nonhelical tail section 22, i.e. the tail section 22 extends in a generally axial direction from the top of each helical ramped surface 21 back towards the base wall 8 of the base 2. This arrangement will allow the lid 3 and the base 2 to be separated as a result of relative rotation of the lid 3 and base 2 in one direction only, i.e. in an anti-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow C on the lid 3 in Fig. 2. However, a helical ramped surface 21 could extend in both directions, and this would allow the lid 3 and the base 2 to be rotated relative to each other in either direction in order to separate the lid 3 and the base 2 from each other.

The raised platforms 21a on which the ramped surfaces 21 are formed may be a localised thickening of the side wall 6 of the base 2, i.e. they maybe integrally formed with the base 2. The thickening may extend from the base wall 8 to the ramped surface 21 or, as shown in Figure 2, the the platforms 21a may each include a recessed area 23 to reduce material usage. Turning now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the cam member on the lid 3 comprises a cam follower 20b. The cam follower 20b is any shape or protruberance extending radially inward from the inner surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 which will engage and travel along the helically-shaped ramped surface 21 of the cam member 20a when the helically-shaped ramped surface 21 and the cam follower 20b are in radial alignment with each other.

As shown in Figure 3, the cam follower 20b may comprise a short section of a curved, essentially helical, male thread 24 that extends in a radially inward direction from an inner surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3. At the very least the cam follower 20b may have a helically shaped lower surface 25 to face the helically-shaped ramped surface 21 on the side wall 6 of the base 2. The helically-shaped lower surface 25 is configured to mate with the helically-shaped ramp surface 21 on the base 2 when the cam members engage.

Although not visible in Figure 3, there may be two cam followers 20b positioned diametrically opposite and extending radially inward from the inner surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the periperal wall 5 has a region 26, indicated by a thickening in the peripheral wall 5 to indicate the location of the cam followers 20b when the lid 3 is received on the base 2. These thickened regions 26 provide indicators to show to a consumer where pressure needs to be applied to the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 in order to remove the lid 3 from the base 2, as will now be described further. In other embodiments, there may be more than two cam followers 20b. It is desirable that the cam followers are in pairs, i.e. one diametrically opposite the other, to enable the cam followers to engage the ramped surface 21 on the base as a result of the lid being squeezed in a diametrically opposite direction.

As can be most clearly seen from the cross-sectional side elevation of Figure 4, the diameter of the lid 3 is greater than the diameter of the side wall 6 of the base 2 so that, when the lid 3 is received on the base 2 a gap 27 is present between the side and peripheral walls 6, 5. The helical ramp surface 21 on the side wall 6 and the helical thread 24 forming the cam follower 20b on the inside surface 5a of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 are spaced or offset from each other in a radial direction so that there is no interaction between the helical ramp surface 21 and the cam follower 24 during attachment of the lid 3 to the base 2, or when the lid 3 is received on the base 2 and the lid 3 and the base 2 are rotated relative to each other in the absence of any resilient deformation of the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3.

As mentioned above, in order to separate the lid 3 from the base 2, the ridge 11 must be moved out of the seat 17 and forced back over the teeth. To achieve this, radially inwardly directed pressure is applied to each of the thickened regions. This maybe achieved by squeezing the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 between a finger, pressed against one thickened region 26, and a thumb of the same hand pressed against the other diametrically opposite thickened region 26. The applied pressure resiliently deforms the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 in a radially inward direction, as shown by the arrows marked D in Fig. 4, so that the cam follower 20b on the inside surface 5a of the lid 3 moves into radial alignment with the ramped helical surface 21 on the side wall 6 of the base 2. Now, with the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 held in its resiliently deformed state, rotation of the lid 3, in an anti-clockwise direction in the illustrated embodiment, will cause the cam follower 20b to contact and travel along the helical ramp surface 21, thereby applying a force between the lid 3 and the base 2 in the opposite axial direction which is sufficient to drive the ridge 11 out of its seat 17 and back over the teeth, thereby releasing the lid 3 from the base and providing access to the storage compartment 7.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the helical ramped surface 21 extends radially from the outer surface of the side wall 6 of the base 2 at at right-angles to the longitudinal axis A- A. In this configuration, the horizontal force tending to push the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 back out following resilient deformation in a radial inward direction is provided only by the resilience of the material from which the peripheral wall 5 is made. However, the ramped surface 21 may also be angled relative to the longitudinal axis A-A, i.e. it may slant downwardly from the side wall 6 in a direction angled towards the base wall 8. This is shown represented by angle marked ‘a’ in the partial cross- sectional view of Fig. 6, in which the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is also shown in its resiliently deformed position, i.e. deflected in a radially inward direction as shown by arrow marked D. By providing a radially sloping ramped surface 21 in this way, the horizontal force tending to push the peripheral wall 5 back out following resilient deformation in the direction of arrow D includes two components namely, the resilience of the material from which the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 is made, and an additional outward force component generated by contact of the cam follower 20b against the angled ramp surface 21. In this configuration, a greater force needs to be applied to the peripheral wall 5 of the lid 3 to keep the cam follower 20b engaged with the ramped surface 21. The contact angle a can be increased to make the lid 3 more difficult to remove, as it increases the force required to maintain the cam follower 20b engaged with the ramped surface 21 during relative rotation of the lid 3 and the base 2.

The base wall 8 comprises a peripheral rim 28 that defines a shallow recessed region (not shown) in the underside of the base 2. A secondary storage compartment is formed by this shallow recessed region which is closed by the cover 10. The cover 10, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a substantially cylindrical cover major face 29 (see Fig. 2) and a peripheral lip 30 which upstands from an edge of the major face 29, forming a shallow recess 31. The cover 10 is removably attached to the base wall 8, although the cover 10 may be hinged to the base wall 8 or attached in any alternative manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 10 is removably attached to the base wall 8 and is held in place via an interference fit. The secondary storage compartment may provide a space to receive and store a printed information leaflet and/or be used to contain used product. The cover 10 may be recessed or dished to increase the amount of space formed by the secondary storage compartment. In other embodiments, there may be no cover 10.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the base wall 2 has a number of protuberances 32 equidistantly spaced around the peripheral rim 28 of the base wall 8. In the embodiment shown, the peripheral rim 28 comprises four equidistantly spaced protuberances 32. The protuberances 32 are substantially semi-circular or arcuate in shape, but may have any shape. As seen in most clearly in Fig. 2, the peripheral lip 30 of the cover 10 comprises a number of equidistantly spaced recesses 34, positioned and shaped to correspond with the protuberances 32 on the base wall 8 such that when the cover 10 is in a closed position on the base wall 8, each of the protuberances 32 on the base wall 8 is received within a corresponding recess 34 on the cover 10. The protruberances 32 on the base wall can receive and locate a patient information leaflet stored in the secondary storage compartment. The patient information leaflet can be square in shape with each corner received in one of the protruberances 32.

Fig. 7 illustrates a base 35 according to another embodiment of the invention, which can be substituted for the base 2 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, but uses the same lid 3.

The base 35 has similar features to allow the lid to be coupled to, and removed from, the base 35 as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, but the base wall 8 is replaced with a chamber or bottle to store a consumer product in bulk.

The container 1 is preferably made from plastic such as HDPE or the like. The cover 10 may be integrally formed with the container 1 and therefore may be also made from

HDPE or the like. Alternatively, the cover 10 maybe separately manufactured from the container 1 and formed from other plastics such as LDPE etc, and may be more flexible than the material of the base 2 and the lid 3. The lid 3 may be formed of a different material to the base 2, such as polypropylene.

The storage compartment 7 in the base 2 may be initially sealed by aluminium foil (not shown) that extends across the open end of the side wall 6 and is sealed against the remote edge 12 of the side wall 6. The seal may have a flap to allow easy removal of the foil, by peeling it off the remote edge 12, when first opening the container by the user.

The aluminum foil closure provides a shelf-life stability barrier for the product during storage and the thickness of the aluminum foil may enhance the tightness of fitting between the lid 3 and the base 2 to improve barrier properties further. Once the foil has been removed by a user, it may become easier for the lid 3 and the base 2, to rotate relative to each other.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/ or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a base portion defining a storage compartment and including a cylindrical side wall; a lid having a resiliently deformable cylindrical peripheral wall; wherein the side and peripheral walls include respective cooperating elements that engage when the lid is placed on the base in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical side and peripheral walls with the side wall of the base being at least partly received within the peripheral wall of the lid, to couple the lid to the base and close the storage compartment; the side and peripheral walls further comprising respective cam members that are spaced from each other in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis when the lid is coupled to the base, wherein said cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid is movable in a radially inward direction towards the longitudinal axis in response to the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid so that the cam member on the peripheral wall of the lid radially aligns with the cam member on the side wall of the base and so that, upon relative rotation of the base and the lid when the peripheral wall of the lid is resiliently deformed, said respective cam members engage and generate a force between the lid and the base in an opposite direction along the longitudinal axis to disengage the cooperating elements to decouple the lid from the base and open the storage compartment. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said respective cooperating elements are configured to provide a snap-fit connection between the lid and the base when the lid is placed on the base.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said respective cooperating elements comprises a ridge that protrudes in a radially outward direction from an outer surface of the side wall of the base, and a catch that protrudes in a radially inward direction from an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid for cooperation with the ridge.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the catch comprises a tooth that protrudes in a radially inward direction, and a seat that locates the ridge when the lid is coupled to the base.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the ridge and the tooth are configured such that the tooth contacts, and then snaps over, the ridge into the seat when the lid is placed on the base and pressure is applied to the lid and the base in opposite axial directions.

6. A container according to claim 4, wherein the tooth and/ or the ridge is resiliently deformable to allow the ridge to snap over the tooth into the seat. . A container according to any of claims 3 to 6, comprising a plurality of teeth extending in a radially inward direction from an inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the teeth are spaced circumferentially about the longitudinal axis.

9. A container according to any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the lid comprises a major wall from which the peripheral wall depends, and the seat to locate the ridge is formed between the teeth and said major wall.

10. A container according to any of claims 3 to 9, wherein the ridge is a ring extending in a radially outward direction from the outer surface of the side wall of the base. 11. A container according to any of claims 4 to 10, wherein, when the lid is coupled to the base, the ridge and the teeth are dimensioned and positioned relative to each other such that the lid and the base can rotate relative to each other about the axis with the ridge remaining located in the seat in the absence of resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid.

12. A container according to any of claims 3 to 11, wherein one of the respective cam members comprises a curved cam surface on the side wall of the base that extends about the axis and faces in a direction of the longitudinal axis towards the lid. 13. A container according to claim 12, comprising a plurality of curved cam surfaces spaced from each other about the circumference of the side wall of the base. 14- A container according to claim 13, wherein each curved cam surface extends helically about the axis in the same direction about the longitudinal axis. 15. A container according to claim 13 or 14, wherein each cam curved cam surface terminates at a peak spaced from the ridge.

16. A container according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the curved cam surface extends in a radial direction at right-angles to the longitudinal axis.

17. A container according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the curved cam surface extends in a radial direction at an angle away from the side wall towards the base wall.

16. A container according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the other of the respective cam members comprises a cam follower that extends in a radially inward direction from the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein said cam follower is moved in a radially inward direction into radial alignment with the curved cam surface in response to the resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid in a radial direction towards the longitudinal axis so that, upon relative rotation of the lid and the base whilst the peripheral wall of the lid is resiliently deformed, said cam follower travels along the curved cam surface to generate a force between the lid and the base in an opposite axial direction to disengage the cooperating elements and decouple the lid from the base.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the lid comprises a pair of diametrically opposed cam followers such that resilient deformation of the peripheral wall of the lid caused by squeezing the peripheral wall in a radially inward direction at the location of the diametrically opposed cam followers radially aligns each cam follower with a corresponding curved cam surface on the side wall of the base.

19. A container according to claim 18, wherein the peripheral wall of the lid comprises an external surface, said external surface including regions to indicate the location of the cam followers extending radially inward from the inside surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein said regions comprises a raised area of the external surface of the peripheral wall of the lid.

21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the cam followers have a curved face shaped to correspond with the curved surface of the cam member such that the curved face of the cam follower slides against the curved cam surface on the base when the peripheral wall of the lid has been resiliently deformed and the lid and the base are rotated relative to each other. 22. A container according to claim 21, wherein engagement between respective curved cam surfaces and cam followers is configured such that, as the cam follower travels along its corresponding curved cam surface, a force is generated between the lid and the base in a direction along the longitudinal axis which is sufficient to force the teeth out of the seat and back over the ridge to decouple the lid from the base.

23. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the base comprises a bottom wall having a upper face from which the side wall upstands, the bottom wall extending in a radially outward direction beyond the side wall.